Arch supporter



Nov. 17, l93l w. J. RILEY 1,832,659

ARCH SUPPORTER Filed July 29. 1929 Patented Nov. 17,, 1931 WILLIAM J.RILEY, OF ALLS'ION, MASSACHUSETTS ARCH SUPPORTER Application filed July29, 1929. 'Serial No. 381,762.

My present invention relates to arch supporters, and more particularlyto a novel and improved removable arch supporter for use in boots andshoes.

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision ofan arch supporter, preferably of flexible cushioning material, whichwill combine the functions of forming a support both for the metatarsalarch and for the longitudinal arch of the foo 1:.

Another object of the invention resides in forming the inner edge of theheel portion of my arch supporter of greater thickness than the outeredge. Combined with this wedge shaped heel portion is the longitudinalarch supporting portion of the supporter, curved in such a way that, asthe foot of the wearer is tilted by the wedge shaped heel, the foot willbe forced or thrown around said longitudinal arch supporting portion, toassume the natural shape.

Another object of this invention resides in so forming the forwardportion of the arch supporter as to allow full freedom of the great toeand the great toe socket joint, as well as allowing full freedom for theouter ball of the foot. i

A still further feature of the invention consists in the fact that thesupporter, and particularly the forward portion thereof, is so formedand shaped as to allow the entrance of the foot into a shoe of the samesize as the user is accustomed to wear. This enables my novel archsupporter to be utilized in shoes which the user has, not necessitatingthe purchase of new shoes, or shoes of a larger size than that to whichthe user is accustomed. Another object of the invention resides inconstructing the supporter of sufficient depth at the shank portion.thereof to permit bending of the inner margin of the shank portion tolay level on the inner sole when the weight i of the wearer is on same.Th'us my novel supporter is self-correcting by the curve thus formed inthe shank portion.

While I preferably construct this supporter of cushioning material, suchas soft rub- 5 her, it will be appreciated that I may make supporter.

the same of other materials, such as leather if desired.

My novel supporter, therefore, combines several advantageous features,all in a read ily removable and replaceable supporter.

Said supporter is economical and simple to manufacture, particularlywhen made of sofl or cushioned rubber, as the same may be molded in asingle operation to finished, com pleted form.

The above and other objects of the invention, details, and advantages,will be herein after more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of my novel supporter in ashoe,the shoe being illustrated only in outline; I T

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View on the line 33 of Fig. 1; t,

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on the line 4-t of Fig. 1; and

, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the com plete arch supporter.

Referring now to the drawings for a par- .ticular description of theinvention, my novel arch supporter is provided with a wedge shaped heelportion, being of greater thickness at the inner edge, as illustrated at10, and tapering from said inner edge to the outer edge 11, the heelcontacting portion of $5 the supporter being slightly dished or cuppedas illustrated at 12. The forward end of the arch supporter is formedwith a forwardly projecting tongue 13,.having a slight upward curvature,which forms a cup or depression 14. This tongue 13 is so constructed andarranged that, when inserted in a shoe, and the footof the wearer placedin the shoe, said tongue will be positioned. under the metatarsal 0rtransverse arch of the foot, said tongue being of sufficient thicknessto properly function as a metatarsal arch support, although the tongueis of less thickness than the remainder of the body portion of the loo 'full freedom" thereof;

[l]. with all in.

ball of the foot, and to allow full freedomthereof. The supporter beingof flexible material, and the tongue 13 being relatively thin andnarrow, permits of free flexing or bendingof thc foot,.and this feature,coupled with the freedom of the inner and the outer] balls of the foot,result in a comfortably fitting arch supporter, the tongue 13 performingits metatarsal arch supporting functiona Without discomfort to thewearer.

I tapers to a relatively thin edge.

- ducing balanced shoe the foot supporting surface The inner side ofthesupporter' is provided with a wall 17 extending considerably abovethe foot contacting surface of the supporter, this wall 17 being Of'COllSlClGIfiblQ thickness, particularly at the bend 18 Where it risesfrom the body of-the supporter. The said wall 17 rises from said footcontacting surface in a curve, except at the rearward portion thereof,where, as illustrated at 19, there is a vertical rise or wall, thisvertical rise extending partly around the heel portion of the supporter.The outer forward edge of the supporter, as illustrated at 20, The sideopposite the wall 17 is formed substantially straight longitudinally ofthe supporter and of the shoe and with a substantial taper to ward theforward edge at 20, as above explained. This feature is clearly shown inFig. 5 and is of decided importance in proconstruction, the supporterthus positively repositioning the foot in a shoe irrespective of thecontour of of the shoe to which it is applied; p j

When my novel supporter is positioned in ashoe, the user is enabled toinsert his foot past or over the supporter, without dislodging thesupporter fromits normal position in 'the shoe. 1 e

'Whenthefoot of the wearer is in the shoe, and the wearersweight'applied to the supporter,the wedge shape of the heel will tend totilt the foot outwardly, whilethe bulge of the supporter at thethickened toe socket jointi seated in the recess 15, the

outer ball of the foot seated in the recess 16,

lit i'lmlfllm 13 the up in the Wall]. 17 forming m1 ample support to]:

r I 1 l '1 l l l l t i "11" hammer on 111 an mm, It lbltlly l" chase ofthe cot of the wearer on the outer side of the-arch supporter forcingthe cushioning material of which the supporter is formed to assume theshape desired or required for the particular. arch being supported. Thusmy novel supporter is selfadjusting, as will be clearly apparent.

The benefits,; advantages, and orthopedic qualities of my novel archsupporter will be instantly apparent'to those skilled in the art,

as well as to theusers and wearers thereof, and since I believe said]supporter to-be novel, I have claimed the'same in the presentapplication.

While I have necessarily described my present invention'som'ewhat indetail, it will beappreciated that I may vary the sizeandarrangementofsaid supporter within reasonably wide limits without departing from thespirit of the invention.

My invention is i'urtherdescribed and defined in the form of claimasfollows: A flexible foot supporter adapted to be fitted within a bootor shoe toreposition the foot of the wearer-therein and tosupport thefoot from the heel for'wardlyto the metatarsal arch, comprisinga'relatively thick heel to constitute a cushion heel extendingforwardly, tapering to aithin edge at each side of a centrallyprojecting tongue, which tongue is rounded to fit-under themetatarsal.arch of thefoot, and a-cut-away portion at each side tapered to a thinedge to receive the inner and outer balls of the foot of the wearerytheinner shank portion intermediate the thickened heel portion and the saidtongue being of greater thickness and extending upwardly along the.inner shank portion to constitute a longitudinal arch supporter, theopposite edge of the supporter being substantially straightlongitudinally from theheel. to the forward thin edge and "formed on aprogressive taper.

' In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WILLIAM J. .RILEY.

portion 18 i will tend to throw the forward-portion of the and with thetongue 13 positioned in its metatarsal arch supporting position. Thethickened portion 18, as illustrated in Fig. 1,

extends transversely of the supporter a sufficient distance from theinner side thereof to support the central longitudinal arch, the bulgeof this thickened portion where it rises

